CCH CompleteTax™ Makes Preparing and Filing Taxes Online Faster, Easier and Affordable

For Just $32.95, Individuals Can File Both a Federal and State Return

(RIVERWOODS, ILL., January 13, 2005) – Understanding the ever-changing tax code is seemingly impossible, but logging on to CCH CompleteTax (www.completetax.com) and having it guide you through preparing and filing your tax returns is faster and simpler than ever thanks to many new features incorporated into the latest version. CompleteTax, developed by CCH Tax and Accounting (CCH), a leading provider of tax and accounting productivity software and services, and a Wolters Kluwer company, offers a comprehensive, affordable online tax preparation and e-filing service for individual taxpayers. For 2005, enhancements have been made making CompleteTax even easier to use while the price has been kept affordable – just $32.95 for preparing and e-filing both a federal and state tax return.

CompleteTax, which goes live later this week for the 2005 tax return season, leverages CCH’s market-leading tax law information and software expertise to provide one of the most comprehensive, easy-to-use, online tax preparation and electronic filing solutions.

The product is offered by the same CCH tax and software experts who developed ProSystem fx® Tax, the leading tax preparation software for tax professionals. CompleteTax also includes an online Tax Guide produced by the tax and financial experts responsible for the CCH Toolkit Tax Guide 2005, CCH’s authoritative print reference for individual taxpayers. As a special offer, purchasers of the CCH Toolkit Tax Guide 2005 also are eligible to e-file one federal and one state tax return at no charge.

“Since its introduction more than five years ago, CompleteTax has clearly distinguished itself as one of the most comprehensive yet consumer-friendly online solutions for economically preparing and e-filing tax returns for the ‘do-it-yourself’ filer,” said Ernest Zoumot, director of software product management for CCH Tax and Accounting. “The depth of expertise and intuitive features built into the product means that not only can the average taxpayer rely on CompleteTax for fast, accurate completion of their 1040s, so too can individuals with more complex or special tax situations that require multiple forms.”

Easy Q & A Format Makes for Faster, Taxpayer-friendly Completion

CompleteTax offers taxpayers an easy-to-follow format that customizes itself based on responses to simple interview questions written in plain English, so filers can easily understand what’s required and only enter information relevant to their tax situation. CompleteTax then selects the appropriate forms from the hundreds of federal and state tax forms available and performs the necessary calculations. It automatically checks for mistakes and oversights and provides direct links to the potential problems for easy, real-time correction.

After the taxpayer has reviewed and approved the completed return, CompleteTax, which is an authorized IRS e-file partner, can electronically file the return with the IRS and the appropriate state tax agency.CompleteTax supports electronic filing for all 44 states that allow it. Taxpayers also can choose to print and mail their returns.CompleteTax also saves taxpayers’ returns on its secure servers and allows them year-round access to print their prior year’s tax return for future reference. Taxpayers who used CompleteTax in the previous year can also automatically import relevant information to their current tax return, saving even more time.

Because CompleteTax is fully web-enabled, taxpayers can access and complete their entire return online from any computer with Internet access without having to download software to their own computers. They also can start and finish their return at their convenience by simply logging on and off the secure CompleteTax servers.

Comprehensive Tax Reference Tools and Support

Context-sensitive help on every page of the interview questionnaire offers immediate support to taxpayers as they go through the program.

Additionally, CompleteTax’s Help Center offers an easy-to-access one-stop reference for all help features, including navigation aids such as “where do I enter?”, a glossary of tax terms and expanded frequently asked questions, as well as fast access to the easy-to-understand and fully searchable online Tax Guide.

Setting itself apart, CompleteTax also offers extensive state tax support, including State Tax Resource pages for each state, offering taxpayers easy access to answers to any questions they may have about their particular state tax return.

The Help Center also includes a comprehensive set of worksheets and tables to help individuals complete their returns, as well as a portfolio of financial calculators and tools that can be used throughout the year to help taxpayers with a variety of personal finance issues, including evaluating investments, home financing, personal financing and retirement options.

Online technical support is offered at no charge through e-mail. A live chat room for real-time support also is available for a nominal fee. A Message Center helps taxpayers keep track of any e-mail messages they receive from CompleteTax’s professional support staff.

Automated Help for Employees and Investors

In addition to allowing individuals to import information from a previous year’s return completed through CompleteTax, taxpayers also can import relevant tax return information from several outside sources, further saving time and reducing potential errors. This includes W-2 information from leading payroll processors and employers.

For investors, CompleteTax also is compatible with GainsKeeper (www.gainskeeper.com), which automates complicated capital gains calculations, including cost-basis adjustments such as wash sales and corporate actions (e.g., stock splits, mergers and spin-offs). This information can then easily be imported into CompleteTax for inclusion with the rest of the user’s tax preparation data.

Speedy Refund Options

CompleteTax makes e-filing fast and easy, accelerating refunds to less than two weeks compared to the six weeks it can take to receive a refund from a mailed return. Taxpayers can get their refunds cleared and into their saving or checking account even faster using the CompleteTax automatic direct deposit option.

Taxpayers owing income tax also have the option to pay the balance due via credit card through a partnership with Official Payments Corporation or, if filing electronically, to pay the balance due on their federal and select state taxes via direct payment from their bank account.

Pricing and Availability

CompleteTax is available starting this week to prepare and process 2004 tax returns. The total cost for calculating, preparing and e-filing/printing both the federal and state returns is $32.95. Payment for the service can be made via credit card or deduction from the filer’s federal tax refund. Users can simply go to completetax.com to access CompleteTax.

About CCH Tax and Accounting

CCH Tax and Accounting (www.tax.cchgroup.com), based in Riverwoods, Ill., is a leading provider of tax and accounting information, software and services. It has served tax, accounting and business professionals and their clients since 1913. Among its market leading products are The ProSystem fx® Office, CCH® Tax Research NetWork™, Accounting Research Manager™ and the U.S. Master Tax Guide®.  CCH Tax and Accounting is a Wolters Kluwer company. Wolters Kluwer is a leading multinational publisher and information services company.

Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2003) of €3.4 billion, employs approximately 18,750 people worldwide and maintains operations across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (www.wolterskluwer.com). Its depositary receipts of shares are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices.

-- ### --

Editors' Note: Members of the press interested in accessing CompleteTax for review should contact Mary Jung at 773-429-0940/mtjung@msn.com; or Leslie Bonacum at 847-267-7153/mediahelp@cch.com.